Director of Manufacturing Operations

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars At Terran Orbital, you're not just part of the system – you're a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation's defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you're driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you'll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let's redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Director of Manufacturing Operations, to join our dynamic team. Reporting to the Executive Leadership Team, the Director of Manufacturing Operations will lead the tactical execution and daily operations of spacecraft manufacturing and assembly across all programs. This role is pivotal in driving operational excellence, improving production efficiency, and ensuring the highest standards of quality, on-time delivery, and cost management. The Director will collaborate closely with Engineering, Test, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to achieve increased production rates and affordability while maintaining alignment with Terran Orbital's mission, vision, values, and strategic objectives. The Director of Manufacturing Operations will provide leadership and guidance to the Manufacturing Operations and Supply Chain teams, ensuring alignment with the company's financial goals and long-term vision.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct all aspects of spacecraft manufacturing operations, delivering best practices that drive revenue growth, profitability, and product quality.
• Develop and implement a company-wide culture of operational excellence by utilizing industry best practices, minimizing waste, and addressing customer needs.
• Build and lead world-class manufacturing, assembly, and supply chain teams through strategic staffing, training, and talent management initiatives, while fostering a culture of integrity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Establish and manage production schedules to align with spacecraft delivery timelines and production rate goals, ensuring synchronization across work centers and internal stakeholders.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability initiatives in collaboration with Engineering to meet production rate and cost targets.
• Lead the integration of supply chain processes with other business functions, such as Finance and Production, to enhance overall operational performance.
• Implement advanced analytics and supply chain management tools to forecast demand, manage inventory levels, and identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Develop and maintain supply chain best practices, including procurement processes, inventory management, and logistics coordination.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align supply chain and manufacturing goals with overall business objectives.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional work experience considered.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in a high-precision manufacturing environment, such as aerospace, automotive, or defense product production.
• At least 6 years of leadership experience with in-depth knowledge of manufacturing operations, lean methodologies, production planning, and quality management systems.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing manufacturing and supply chain processes, with a focus on KPIs and metrics-driven leadership.
• Strong organizational, leadership, motivational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build cross-functional partnerships and lead cross-functional teams and initiatives.
• Expertise in change management, formalized problem-solving, decision-making, and failure analysis.
• Self-motivated, inspirational leader, and effective team player.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Active U.S. Security Clearance or eligibility to obtain one.
• Expertise in operational excellence, including:
  • Lean principles (e.g., pull systems, min/max controls).
  • Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) for manufacturing.
  • One-piece flow or pull system manufacturing operations.
  • Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) processes.
  • Visual factory and Gemba implementation.
• Experience transitioning products from prototype manufacturing to volume production, including design-for-manufacturability initiatives.
• Familiarity with PFMEAs to mitigate risks in manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of ISO9001/AS9100D standards and Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Proficiency in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and other proactive quality tools.
• Experience deploying proactive safety initiatives to achieve zero-injury environments.

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag 

Salary Range

$200,000 - $250,000 USD

 Benefits

• 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital 

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at 

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.